Launches the ECO 122 2.7MW Wind Turbines for Low Wind Power Sites

The ECO 122’s leading efficiency and high yield set a new benchmark for low wind power sites. At a wind speed of 7.5 m/s the turbine delivers a net wind farm capacity factor of up to 42%, equivalent to 3,600 full-load hours each year. Its 122-metre rotor diameter and swept area of 11,700 m2 – the largest in the 2 MW to 3 MW wind turbine segment – maximise the harvest of energy and the return on investment to create new business opportunities for customers from low wind sites.

Alfonso Faubel, Senior Vice President of Alstom’s wind energy business, said: “Research and innovation are at the heart of our business. With the ECO 122 and other wind turbines in our ECO 100 platform, we’re leading the development of the new generation of high power, high-efficiency turbines to increase value for our customers. Longer blades capture more power more effectively, and with its swept area much larger than current generation machines, the ECO 122 has set a new standard for low wind sites around the globe.”

The ECO 122 produces about 25% increased wind farm yield on a given piece of land compared with today’s 1.5 – 2 MW wind turbines, and fewer wind turbines need to be installed. As an example, on a typical low wind site, six current generation 1.5 – 2 MW wind turbines will produce around 40 GWh/year2, compared with more than 50 GWh/year with only five ECO 122 wind turbines.

This yield advantage also means significant capital expenditure savings. An ECO 122 powered wind farm can reduce balance of plant costs by 10-15%, compared with a farm using typical 1.5 – 2 MW machines, due to fewer foundations, platforms and roads, and less cabling.

The ECO 122 is the latest evolution of Alstom’s proven ECO 100 turbine platform, and the result of more than 30 years of experience in wind turbine design. The ECO 100 platform now has more than 350 MW installed or under construction worldwide and over 200,000 cumulative operating hours since 2008.

All Alstom wind turbines are based upon the unique and proven ALSTOM PURE TORQUE® rotor support concept that protects the drive train from deflection loads, ensuring higher reliability and lower maintenance costs.

The first ECO 122 will be installed in mid 2012 with first commercial deliveries expected in early 2013.

Capacity Factor is an indicator of how much energy a wind turbine produces in a particular location, over a year. Since wind speed is not constant, a wind turbine’s annual energy production is never as much as its MW rating multiplied by total hours in a year. Capacity factor is the ratio of the actual energy produced in a year, to the theoretical maximum possible if the turbine is running full time at full power output.

Alstom designs, assembles and installs a range of onshore wind turbines spanning 1.67 MW to 3 MW and is currently producing the Haliade 150-6MW – the first new generation offshore turbine. The company has been at the forefront of wind technology development for the last 30 years with innovations such as the unique ALSTOM PURE TORQUE® rotor support concept that protects the drive train from deflection loads. Alstom has installed or is installing over 2200 wind turbines in more than 120 wind farms, corresponding to a total capacity of over 3000 MW.

www.alstom.com/wind